My boyfriend and me made it a tradition to start the new year with a mini getaway (well, at least we did it for the second time this year, so it seems to be becoming a tradition). For the ultimate relaxing start into the new year I recommend: find a beautiful hotel in your city – it must have a spa and sauna -, book a large room (including breakfast) and a spa treatment, relax in the sauna, have dinner in the hotel restaurant, don’t leave the hotel until late-checkout demands it. I guarantee you will leave with your energy levels refuelled.

This weekend we stayed in “Gastwerk Hotel”, in Hamburg. The building alone, a rebuilt former factory, provides an unusual experience, and the same applies for the tasteful loft style rooms (we stayed in the junior suite). I especially liked the hotel’s spa area. Three to four hours of taking a sauna, dozing and reading really do wonders.

Are you googling design hotels in your city yet?